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Frequently Asked Questions Retirement

If no survivor annuity is payable upon the retiree's death, any remaining portion, representing either the remaining annuity and/or retirement contributions not paid to the retiree, is payable to the person(s) eligible under the order of precedence. If the court assigned payment under a court order, we will pay the lump sum in accordance with that court order. Otherwise, we will pay benefits under the following order of precedence:

to the designated beneficiary;

if there is no such beneficiary, to the widow or widower;

if none of the above, to the child or children, with the share of any deceased child distributed among the descendants of that child (a court will usually have to appoint a guardian to receive payment for a minor child);

if none of the above, to the parents in equal shares or the entire amount to a surviving parent;

if none of the above, to the executor or administrator of the estate; or

if none of the above, to the next of kin as determined under the laws of the State where the retiree lived.

Monthly payments to a surviving spouse generally continue for life unless your spouse remarries before age 55. If your spouse was married to you for at least 30 years, he or she can continue receiving benefits when there is a remarriage before age 55 occurring after January 1, 1995.

If you meet the eligibility requirements for
a retirement benefit, you are eligible to receive an annuity based on your
length of service and your high-3
average salary. The information in your application is used to determine if
you are applying for a disability option, a regular or early-out option, or a
discontinued service annuity. It is also used to check the service listed on
your payroll records.

There are many reasons for changing your health benefits enrollment. If you are changing your coverage because of one of the reasons listed below, we can make the change based on your telephone call. When calling you must have your claim number and social security number, as well as the enrollment number and name for your new plan. Changes we can make by phone include:

You are changing to self-only coverage from family coverage;

You are changing plans because you have moved out of the service area of your Health Maintenance Organization (HMO);

You turned 65 and are changing to a lower cost plan option because you are eligible for Medicare;

You are changing your enrollment during the annual Health Benefits Open Season, which usually runs from mid-November to early December; or

You are changing to family coverage because you marry, or have or adopt a child. (This option is not available to survivors.)

You should contact us within the period beginning 31 days before up to 60 days after the date of the event.

You may change the plan in which you are enrolled or from high to low option coverage during the annual Open Season for electing coverage.

If you need assistance with your health benefits enrollment, call 1 (888) 767-6738 , to change your enrollment or if you need to speak with a Customer Service Specialist. Or, see our web pages at http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/index.asp to obtain information about health insurance benefits online.

If you are eligible for TRICARE or TRICARE-For-Life benefits, you may suspend your FEHB coverage and premium payments. You are able to reenroll in the FEHB Program during the Open Season, or immediately if you are involuntarily disenrolled from the TRICARE program. Select this link to find answers to frequently asked questions on this topic.

We only withhold Federal income tax. You may find that the Federal income taxes withheld from your first interim payment will be higher than the Federal tax withholdings from your subsequent interim payments and regular annuity. We will make any necessary tax withholding adjustment when we finish processing your application. Your health and life insurance coverage will continue while you are receiving interim pay. We will begin withholding health and life insurance premiums retroactive to the commencing date of your annuity, when we finish processing your application.

At your request, your employer should provide you with any of the following
estimates that apply to your circumstances. However, the U.S. Office of
Personnel Management determines the actual amount of the benefit that is payable
based on the laws and regulations and on the certified record of your
employment.

If you receive military retired pay, an estimate of your benefit with and
without credit for military service.

If you are considering deposit for military service after 1956, an estimate
of your benefit with and without credit for the military service you performed
after December 31, 1956.

If you are considering a deposit, under the Civil Service Retirement System,
for federal employment before October 1, 1982, estimates of the amount of the
deposit and the amount of your benefit with and without the reduction for the
deposit.

If you are considering a deposit, under the Civil Service Retirement System
(CSRS), for federal employment on/after October 1, 1982, estimates of the amount
of the deposit and the amount of your benefit with and without credit for the
employment period.

If you are considering repaying, under the Civil Service Retirement System
(CSRS), a refund of retirement contributions for employment ending before
October 1990, an estimate of the amount of the redeposit and your benefit with
and without the actuarial reduction taken if the redeposit is not paid.

If you are considering repaying, under the Civil Service Retirement System
(CSRS), a refund of retirement contributions for employment ending after October
1990, an estimate of the amount of the redeposit and your benefit with and
without credit for the employment period covered by the refund.

If you are considering a deposit, under the Federal Employees Retirement
System (FERS), for federal employment before 1989, estimates of the amount of
the deposit and the amount of your benefit with and without credit for the
employment period.

If you are considering providing less than the maximum annuity payable after
your death to a husband, wife, or ex-spouse, estimates of the amount of the
survivor's annuity and the amount of your annuity with and without the reduction
for full survivor's benefit.

You can help reduce delays in processing by submitting your application in
advance and by making sure your Official Personnel Folder (OPF) is complete. If
you submit your paperwork early, your personnel and payroll offices will be able
to complete their action before your retirement date.

You can keep your basic life insurance in retirement if all of the following conditions are met:

You have coverage when you retire;

You have not converted coverage to an individual policy;

Your annuity begins within 30 days or, (However if you are retiring under the Minimum Retirement Age (MRA) plus 10 provision of the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) and you have postponed the commencing date of your annuity, health and life insurance coverage is suspended until your annuity begins) and,

You were insured for life insurance for the five years immediately preceding retirement or the full periods of service when coverage was available.

You can keep your optional life insurance in retirement if all of the following conditions are met:

You are eligible to continue your basic coverage; and,

You were covered by the optional life insurance for the five years immediately preceding retirement or the full periods of service when coverage was available, if less than five years.

When we receive your retirement application, we will notify you and will provide
a civil service claim identification number (a seven-digit number preceded by
"CSA"). You must use that identification number whenever you contact OPM about
your annuity.

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